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Himachal girl shortlisted for selection to represent India in the Asian Games

Statesman News Service | Shimla | June 27, 2018 4:06 am

Vinaksi Dhota.

Himachali girl, Vinaksi Dhota has figured amongst 50 boxers to be selected to represent the country in ‘Boxing’ in the Asian Games scheduled to be held in August at Indonesia.

The eighteen-year-old, Vinakshi from the tribal belt of Kinnaur from Sangla village is presently at Rohtak in Haryana as part of the National camp undergoing training for selection to Asian Games.

“We are 50 boxers being trained here. We have three training sessions every day,” said Vinakshi, adding that she is working to strengthen her stamina and improve on her punches at the training institute. Vinakshi had dreamed of becoming a boxer, which was encouraged by the Head Master Opinder Negi of Government Middle School, Sangla who is a former National Level boxer.

Her family also supported her and what doubled her confidence to pursue her passion for the Boxing sport was Jindal Steel Works (JSW) Energy’s intervention to encourage sporting talent in the village by setting up the Boxing ring.

Vinakshi trained herself at the Boxing ring established by JSW Energy in the premises of Government Middle School in Sangla. She pulled her weight through several district, regional and national championships to become one of the youngest boxers from the academy to get join the National Camp for selection of Boxing talent to represent India at the Asian Games.

When most of her classmates dropped out due to exhaustion from the rigorous training, Vinakshi was among the few who pushed herself to continue.

Speaking on her achievements, Vinakshi said, “I never imagined that I would be able to fight my way through the entire struggle. I couldn’t have done it without my mentor. What was perceived to be a ‘man’s sport’ has changed slowly and steadily. The women in my village are not shy anymore, they are becoming more confident to take up sports, especially boxing.”